UDUPI: Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) is likely to name its Bannanje rural bus stand after former home minister V S Acharya.
KSRTC chairman M Chandrappa, who considered Acharya his political guru, has agreed to take up the proposal mooted by Udupi MLA K Raghupati Bhat and seconded by transport minister Laxman Savadi to his board for approval.
Former transport minister R Ashoka had sanctioned Rs 30 crore for the rural bus stand coming up on 2.5-acre land in Bannanje along NH 169A.
“It will only be befitting if this bus stand is named after late Dr Acharya, who strove tirelessly for Udupi and its development,” MLA Raghupathi Bhat said.
Deputy chief minister Laxman Savadi, who also holds the transport portfolio, made suggestions to Holalkere MLA Chandrappa to place this proposal before the KSRTC board for its approval.
“Dr Acharya was an ‘ ajathashatru’ and no one will oppose this tribute to a fine leader who emerged from the hallowed soil of Udupi,” Savadi said.
Savadi, Chandrappa and Bhat visited the site of the rural bus stand at Bannanje. “We will clear this proposal before the inauguration of the new facility,” Chandrappa said.
The rural bus stand, estimated to be ready for inauguration by May, could entail a multiplex, Bhat said. “KSRTC should invite a separate tender for this,” the MLA suggested.
Having separate bus stands for rural and urban operations will help KSRTC consolidate its footprints in this coastal town where private operators are in play and help give better service to people, a principle that Dr Acharya stood for, Bhat said.